Join us for the first of MAS's early morning warbler walks. We will be looking for migrating warblers as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers, and whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 am and park at the deadend that leads up to Parisi Park near where Park Lawn St. meets Park St. in Middleton.
On a warbler walk at Turville Point you can expect to see warblers and other migrant songbirds along the western edge of Lake Monona. Meet at 6:00 am at Olin-Turville Park in the parking lot closer to the stop light on Olin Av. (near the woods). The trip will last about two hours.
Call Charlotte at 608.236.4224 if you have questions.
Learn about the rare plant communities and butterflies at The Nature Conservancy's Spring Green Preserve. Plant communities include sand prairie, dry bluff prairie, black oak barrens, and oak woodlands. At this time, the Olympia Marble butterfly should be flying. Other possibilities include American Lady, Red Admiral, Juniper Hairstreak, and early Monarchs.
We will also look for migratory birds such as meadowlarks, Vesper, Grasshopper, and Lark Sparrows. There is always something interesting to see at this preserve, such as prickly pear cactus and a host of insects, including a variety of tiger beetles. Early spring flowers, such as buttercup, bird's-foot violet, and rock-cress should be in bloom.
Wear foot gear appropriate for walking among cacti. Bring close-focusing binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Spring Green Preserve parking lot at 10:00 am. From intersection of Hwys. 14 and 23 near Spring Green, go north on Hwy. 23 for 1/2 mile and turn right (east) on Jones Rd. After 3/4 of a mile, turn left (north) on the dirt access road to the preserve parking lot (it's just past fire number E5196A). Expect the trip to last until 1:00 pm.
Co-sponsors: The Prairie Enthusiasts and Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association. E-mail Rich or call 608.845.7065 (home). Or e-mail Ann or call 608.836.1097.
All five species of Wisconsin Elfins are tiny and elusive, but none rarer than the State-Threatened Frosted Elfin. On this short-notice field trip, we will travel to Jackson Co. where Scott Swengel, who has more than 20 years of experience monitoring butterflies in Wisconsin, will show participants the best ways to search for these butterflies.
Pre-registration Required. Those interested please e-mail Ann Thering to be placed on a Frosted Elfin field trip alert e-mail list. Only one or two days notice will be given, by e-mail. This all-day trip will be on one of the following weekdays: May 16, 19, 20, 21. The field trip will include at least 4 miles of walking. Other possible butterfly species include: Olympia Marble, Karner Blue, Gorgone Checkerspot, Cobweb Skipper, Dusted Skipper, other Elfins, etc.
Please bring close-focusing binoculars if you have them. (Several extra pairs of binoculars are available for use.) Also, bring a bag lunch and plenty of water. A hat, long pants and shirt sleeves are recommended, and sturdy hiking boots.
Meet in Jackson Co. at 10 am at the corner of West Bauer Rd. and Brockway Rd. From the intersection of I-94 and Hwy. 54 in Black River Falls, go east on Hwy. 54 approximately five miles to Brockway Rd. Turn right on Brockway and drive 2.5 miles south to West Bauer Rd. This area is about 2 1/2 hours northwest of Madison.
Tuesday, May 6: Warbler Walk at the Arboretum
Trip Leaders: John Feith & Jim Berkelman
This is one of a handful of annual early morning warbler walks to be held in the UW Arboretum, looking for migrating warblers as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers, and whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 am in the Arboretum at the Wingra/Galistel Woods parking lot along Arboretum Dr. Enter the Arboretum from the east off Mills St. If you enter from the west (Seminole Hwy.) you will have to walk from the McKay Center parking area.
E-mail John or call 608.445.7375 if you have questions.
Thursday, May 8: Warbler Walk at the Arboretum
Trip Leader: Levi Wood
This is one of a handful of annual early morning warbler walks to be held in the UW Arboretum, looking for migrating warblers as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers, and whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 am in the Arboretum at the Wingra/Galistel Woods parking lot along Arboretum Dr. Enter the Arboretum from the east off Mills St. If you enter from the west (Seminole Hwy.) you will have to walk from the McKay Center parking area.
Call Levi at 608.277.7959 if you have questions.
Friday, May 9: Birding Quarry Park
Trip Leader: Allen Fichen
We'll be on the lookout for a variety of spring migrants, primarily but not exclusively warblers, amidst the inner-city greenery of Quarry Park in Madison. Meet at 7:00 am at the base of Rocky Ledge La., a narrow dead-end street just off the intersection of Eugenia Av. and Stevens St. Park along those or other nearby neighborhood streets: there's no room for parking on Rocky Ledge itself.
Call Allen at 608.238.6816 if you have questions.
Friday, May 9: Evening Birding at Nine Springs
Trip Leaders: Steve Thiessen & Dan Doeppers
We will visit one of the more interesting and often overlooked birding spots in the Madison area to search for shorebirds, herons, cranes, terns, swallows, and waterfowl. This area typically has good mud flats, marsh and pond habitat. Meet at 6:30 pm at the E-Way parking lot along the Capitol City Bike Trail on Moorland Rd. Bring a scope if you have one. This trip may last until 9:00 pm or later.
Call Steve at 608.873.3323 if you have questions.
Tuesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 15: Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch
Trip Leaders May 13: Aaron Stutz & Mike McDowell
Trip Leaders May 15: Aaron Stutz & Jesse Peterson
Join us for one of MAS's early morning warbler walks. We'll look for migrating warblers as well as vireos, thrushes, tanagers and whatever else flies by. Meet at 6:00 am and park at the dead-end that leads up to Parisi Park near where Park Lawn St. meets Park St. in Middleton.
E-mail Aaron or call 608.294.9618 if you have questions.
Thursday, May 15: Evening at Token Creek
Trip Leader: Ed Saur
Though bordered by Hwy. 51 and I-90, Token Creek County Park's varied habitat holds species such as Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Warbling Vireo, and several species of flycatchers. A variety of migrant warblers are also possible. Trip leader Ed Saur has lived in northeast Dane County and visited the park frequently for more than 20 years. He atlased the park for the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas Project for three years.
The trip begins at 6:30 pm. Token Creek Co. Park is in the northeast quadrant of the I-90/94 and Hwy. 51 interchange. It's about a 1/2 mile north on Hwy 51 from I-90/94 or 1/2 mile south on Hwy. 51 from Hwy. 19 and just east of the Pine Cone Restaurant truck stop. Brown signs mark the entrance. Wear shoes that will keep your feet dry, as some trails may be wet. Meet at the parking lot at the first building on the right.
E-mail Ed or call 608.846.4482 if you have questions.
Saturday, May 17: Birding Horicon Marsh
Trip Leader: Levi Wood
With 268 species of birds identified in the marsh, Horicon is one of the birding hot spots in Wisconsin. At this time of year, in addition to the nesting egrets, herons, and waterfowl, we hope to see plenty of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other passerines. With luck we will hear and maybe even see some of the more elusive marsh birds, such as rails and wrens. It may be mid-afternoon by the time we head back to Madison, so bring a lunch. It is usually windy at Horicon.
To carpool, meet at the eastside Cub Food Store parking lot at 7:30 am. Reach Cub Foods via Hwy. 30 east to Hwy. 51. Go north on Hwy. 51 and take the first right (Nakoosa Tr.) and turn right again into the Cub Foods parking lot. Passengers are expected to help pay for gas.
Call Levi at 608.277.7959 if you have questions.
Saturday, May 17: Jefferson/Dodge County Bird Walk - NEW!
Trip Leader:
The second monthly walk for this new group will be led by experienced birders from 9:00 am to noon at Dorothy Carnes Park (Rose Lake) in Jefferson County near Fort Atkinson. Meet in the parking lot and bird the park trails. For details, please visit theropod.org where you can also sign up to receive e-mail notices and ensure you're alerted to any last minute changes due to weather or other circumstances. At the website you'll also find maps and information on how to get to the walk site.
Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18: Bog Butterflies of Northern Wisconsin
Trip Leader: Mike Reese
This joint trip of MAS and the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association will concentrate on locating the five early season bog species at Riley Lake Wildlife Area in Price County. All were seen there last May. These include the Freija Fritillary, Frigga Fritillary, Red-disk Alpine, Jutta Arctic, and the Brown Elfin. They are all listed on the DNR web page of rare bog butterflies. Another dozen species of interest are possible on this trip.
Wear footgear appropriate for walking in the boggy habitat. Last year it was cool in the morning and ice was still on the water at 9:30 am so it could be a little chilly. Bring close-focusing binoculars, water, and a lunch. (Some extra binoculars are available but call the leader to reserve a pair.)
We will meet in Price County at the corner of Hwy. 70 and Hemlock Rd. at approximately 10:30 am on Saturday the 17th. (This spot is located 25 miles west of the intersection of Hwy. 70 and 51 in Minocqua. Alternatively, the spot is located 15 miles east of the intersection of Hwy 70 and 13 in Fifield.) The bog is approximately 240 miles from Madison. This trip will continue on Sunday for anyone staying over. (Call Mike for information on motels in Park Falls. Reserve early!)
Pre-registration is required for this trip to allow us to contact you concerning any bad weather cancellation. E-mail Mike or call 920.787.2341 (home) if you have questions.
Sunday, May 18: Birding at Picnic Point
Trip Leaders: Dan Doeppers & Peter Fissel
We anticipate a pleasant spring morning of birding on Picnic Point, one of Madison's birding hot spots. With lots of shoreline, open water and a variety of woods, wetlands, and open areas, Picnic Point is known for its diversity of birds. On the lake we will look for waterfowl, gulls, and terns. In the marshlands we'll be looking for blackbirds, wrens, and Song and Swamp Sparrows. In the woodlands we'll look for woodpeckers, thrushes, orioles, vireos, and early warblers. And in the fields and gardens we'll look for grassland sparrows.
Meet at 7:30 am at the circular 1918 Marsh parking lot across University Bay Dr. from Picnic Point, north of the UW hospital. The trip will last for 2-3 hours with an opportunity to extend longer. Co-sponsor: Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.
Call Dan Doeppers at 608.255.3013 if you have questions.
Sunday, May 18: Birding at Zeloski Marsh
Trip Leader: Nolan Kollath
The marsh has become a major stopover for shorebirds during migration. During 2007, 24 species were seen there. It is also a major stopover for waterfowl and wading birds. We will walk a mile and a half on gravel trails to reach excellent shorebird and waterfowl viewing areas. For a description of Zeloski Marsh see the webpage or the article by Nolan Kollath in the December 2007 CAWS.
Meet at the DNR parking lot at the end of Alley Rd. at 9:00 am (about 45 minutes from the west side of Madison). Alley Rd. is on Jefferson Co. S (west of Lake Mills), south of County B and north of County A. The Glacial Drumlin Trail is nearby and is excellent for warbler watching at this time of the year, so make a day of it if you can. Picnic facilities are at nearby Korth Park and Lake Mills is nearby for food.
E-mail Nolan or call 920.648.3842.
Saturday, May 24: Birding Glacial Drumlin Trail
Trip Leader: Nolan Kollath
We will use the Glacial Drumlin Trail to stay high and dry within the Lake Mills Wildlife Area as we pass through tamarack swamp, shrub-carr marsh, and lake habitats. The primary focus will be migrating warblers which tend to concentrate at our destination because it is good feeding habitat adjacent to a large lake. Warblers commonly seen at this time of year are Magnolia, Nashville, Wilson's, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Canada, Bay-breasted, and Northern Waterthrush. Less common species seen here include Blackburnian, Northern Parula, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Pine, and Blackpoll. Resident birds include Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Veery, Swamp Sparrow, and Willow Flycatchers.
Meet at the Elm Point Rd. entrance to Korth Park at 9:00 am (45 minutes from the west side of Madison). Elm Point Rd. is on Jefferson County S (west of Lake Mills), south of County B and north of County A. Do not take the main Korth Park entrance. If you are late just follow the park trail to the Glacial Drumlin Trail and turn left to find us. Zeloski Marsh is nearby and offers excellent shorebird watching at this time of year, so make a day of it if you can. Picnic facilities are at Korth Park and Lake Mills is nearby for food.
E-mail Nolan or call 920.648.3842.
Saturday, May 24: Bird Banding Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory
Trip Leader: Mara McDonald
This easy spring field trip near Picnic Point runs from 8:00 am until noon. Come early or later in the morning, stay the full time or just a few minutes, wander around or become a lifelong volunteer. See how birds are netted, banded, measured and released, and discuss how important information is gathered for management and conservation purposes.
You can expect to see Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, American Goldfinches, possibly Wilson's Warbler, and a variety of other migrating birds in the hand. You can accompany bird banders to the nets and observe how they remove birds, band them, and measure the birds at the mobile station.
If you bring along food and drink, do not eat while handling birds as they may carry infectious agents. Bring insect repellent. You are free to stay as long as you wish, to wander the restored prairie, or to bird Picnic Point.
To get to the banding station, take Lake Mendota Dr. and park at Frautschi Point. Walk south through the woods, keeping Lake Mendota on your left, onto the Biocore Prairie. At the prairie, follow the trail to your right, then left. The banding station (aka: picnic table) is at the top of the prairie. Visitors not able to walk are asked to contact the trip leader ahead of time for permission to drive to the site.
E-mail Mara or call 608.274.2534 before 8:30 pm if you have questions.
Sunday, May 25: Birding at Baxter's Hollow
Trip Leader: Aaron Stutz
Baxter's Hollow is one of the most scenic areas in the Baraboo Hills. We will search for breeding species like Worm-eating Warbler, Mourning, Cerulean and Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, both cuckoos, and any migrants passing through. The trip will depart from the Copp's parking lot (6800 Century Av.) in Middleton at 6:30 am and may last for four hours.
E-mail Aaron or call 608.294.9618 if you have questions.
Thursday, May 29: Evening at Pheasant Branch
Trip Leader: Mike McDowell
Enjoy an evening warbler walk at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Middleton, on the Dane County parcel. Migrating spring warblers, vireos, and thrushes will be the focus of our search, but we'll probably find other interesting birds and sights. To reach the Dane County parcel, drive 1 1/2 miles north on Pheasant Branch Rd. from Century Av. Go to the third conservancy parking lot on the right after you pass the Conservancy Condominiums. Meet at 6:00 pm.
E-mail Mike or call 608.850.4122 if you have questions.
Saturday, May 31: Janesville's Cook Arboretum
Trip Leader: Tom Klubertanz
Cook Arboretum, one of the premier birding spots in Rock County, offers a variety of habitats, including bottomland forest, riparian forest, scrub, field, and conifers. Several forest-interior species are found there, including nesting Hooded and Cerulean warblers, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Tufted Titmouse. Warbler diversity is excellent, with over 20 species expected in late May. Relative rarities found at the site in past years include Kentucky Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, both cuckoos, and Bobolink. The trails are well-groomed, but the terrain is rugged. Be prepared for a good cardiovascular workout.
We will meet at 7:30 am at the parking lot at the end of the drive
From Madison: Take Hwy 14 south through Evansville. Before Janesville, take County Rd. H south (right) 1 mile to County Rd. A. Take County Rd. A east (left) about 3 miles. The arboretum is on the left side, at Austin Rd., 1 mile before Janesville. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes from the Madison Beltline.
From I-90 & through Janesville: Take I-90 to Hwy 26 (Milton Av.) interchange. Take Hwy 26 into Janesville to Hwy 14. Take Hwy 14 west (right) 5 miles to Hwy 51. Take Hwy 51 south (left) 4 miles to Memorial Dr. Take Memorial Dr. west (right) to the edge of town. Memorial Dr. becomes County Rd. A. The arboretum is on the right, just outside the city limits.
E-mail Tom or call 608.758.6553 if you have questions.
